Change in UK weather attracts more mosquitoes

21st May 2014

Researchers from the University of Reading's School of Biological Sciences, studied the potential impact that warmer temperatures could have on the behaviour on mosquitoes in the UK.

There are two factors that have the potential to change the behaviour of mosquitoes in the UK, who are usually free from diseases that can harm humans. Firstly, the concentration of humans in urban areas (their activity can produce a rise in temperature) and secondly - the number of water containers in gardens.

If mosquitoes use water containers for breeding areas then the concentrated levels may benefit the production of mosquito larval. The greater the number of insects in the area the higher the chance of a potential outbreak.

The findings can be found in the journal Plos one.

Co-author and associate professor Amanda Callaghan, described the study as a chance to analyse the difference, if any, in the concentration and diversity of mosquitoes in rural or urban locations.

Results

Researchers placed water containers in a number of urban and rural residential gardens.

Amanda Callaghan said: "They found fewer species of mosquitoes in urban environments compared with rural environments, but the species that were there were much more abundant."